World Missions - What Are Our Children Doing to Share

Christ?    ~ Principal Paul Lutze

 

The mission offerings for the second quarter of the school year totaled $555.

This amount is being sent to our mission in India. The missionary in the field

is one of our own former pastors, David Beckman. He was our featured

missionary/mission field during the month of September 2009. Please continue

to keep Missionary and Holly Beckman, their family and their ministry in India

in your prayers.

SPECIAL PRAYER NEEDS:

• Pray that God would keep peace in our land, that He would keep religious

fanaticism away from us, and that he would empower our pastors, our

gospel workers, and the people they serve with a bold desire to share the

message of Jesus’ forgiveness and eternal life with those living apart from

him.

• Pray for our physical well being and safety, although we never really feel

threatened living in this part of India.

The third quarter missions will be going to help with Haiti relief. If you’ve

watched the news at all, you know the devastation that has struck the people

of Haiti. It will be a long road to recovery for them. If we can help in any way,

that would be awesome. And if God’s love and comfort is shared with them

through the Word, as they are being helped, even better.

 

Annual Meeting Recap

~ James Peterson, Recording Secretary

 

There were 119 members in attendance at the January 24 Annual

Congregational meeting. Of the 119 members, 69 were eligible to vote. Pastor

Zessin led those gathered in prayer before moving into the agenda. A motion

was made to amend the agenda and add, under Item 12 the “Election of

Officers,” a discussion and vote on whether to delay the elections until the

Revision of the Constitution is complete and voted on. The motion was

seconded and after discussion, was approved to amend the agenda.

The first order of business was the approval of the 2009 3rd Quarter

Congregational Meeting Minutes. They were approved without discussion. Of

the reports given most of the discussion and resulting explanations involved

Pastor Zessin’s report on Member changes and Pastor Kolterjahn’s Statistical

report. Regarding Pastor Zessin’s report, the discussion resulted in the

uncertainty as to whether members to be released had been contacted by a

pastor one last time before being added to the list. Without the documentation

at hand, a motion was made to remove the Members Out from the list, before 

approval. A motion was made and seconded to approve the Members In only.

The motion was approved.

Questions on what to make of the Statistical Report’s numbers regarding the

drop in communion attendance of approximately 1,100 over the year were

voiced. A number of possible explanations were given. One being the

cancellation of some of the communion services, due to weather, could have

accounted for as many as 400 on a weekend. The ushers will also be asked

if they can count the communion attendees at each service rather than use the

Friendship Register as the source of the number for those who take

communion. This was looked at as a more exact way to count attendance, as

some people do not sign the Friendship Register.

Treasurer Chad Hougaard presented the Financial Report for the end of

2009. Explanations were given in regard to the refinancing with Bank First

National to consolidate our loans in December. This resulted in our bank loan

balance being $470,000. After very little discussion the Financial Report for

2009 was approved.

Additional information was given by Jim Peterson, chairman of the Long

Range Planning Committee, on their continued efforts in revising the Church

Constitution. The schedule is set to have the final draft ready for congregation

review at forums at the end of February and beginning of March. This gives

the required time before a final vote will be asked for at the 1st Quarter

Congregational Meeting.

Chad Hougaard did the 2010 Budget presentation and explanation. He

presented the budget in a new layout that had more detail than previous

budget proposals. The following items were included in the budget proposal:

 

1. Cutting the Secretary position as of April 1 and replacing it with volunteer

 

2. Cutting the Janitor position as of July 1 and replacing the position with

a part time position without benefits. Volunteer help will also be needed.

 

3. The 3 yr. old Preschool program will be dropped and the full time

preschool teacher position will be replaced with a part time teacher with no

benefits for the 4 yr. old Preschool program beginning in the 2010-2011 school

year.

4. Pastor Zessin announced his retirement in 2010. The exact date has not

been determined, but the salary for the Senior Pastor position was included for

the entire year.

 

There was considerable discussion and many opinions given in regard to the

staff cuts. Many concerns were expressed as to whether enough volunteers

would come forward to take over those responsibilities of the Secretary and the

Janitor. Presiding Elder Chuck Cihlar explained the Executive Board’s work

involved in these decisions and the amount of input from individual members,

the LES Committee, and the Ad Hoc Committees’ reports that were taken into

account. The bottom line was that without these reductions there would be a

 

greater chance of much deeper cuts in the very near future if our congregation continues on its

current path. A number of members expressed their belief that significant changes and efforts

need to be made in the spiritual life of our congregation. More work toward the ministry of our

members needs to be done rather than focusing on the financial issues. The members of this

congregation need to show their love and give thanks to God. After many members had their

voices heard, a motion was made to accept the 2010 Proposed Budget, with the inclusion of

giving the Executive Board authorization to rescind staff cuts if the income levels improve enough

to do so. That motion was seconded and with no further discussion a ballot vote was taken. The

motion passed by a 49 to 18 majority. The 2010 Budget was approved with the added

authorization of the Executive Board to rescind staff cuts if income levels improve enough to do so.

 

The last item on the agenda was the election of officers. There was discussion on the earlier

approved motion item of possibly delaying the elections until the Revision of the Constitution is

complete and voted on. Chuck Cihlar explained that the Executive Board had considered that

option, but decided against it as there was not enough time to inform the congregation on that

type of vote before this meeting. After other thoughts were voiced the earlier motion of whether

to delay the elections was voted on by hand vote. The motion to delay the elections until the

Revision of the Constitution was completed was defeated.

 

The first position to be elected was the position of Presiding Elder, which was previously held

by Dennis Bergene. The Executive Board had accepted his resignation. The nominee’s were

Ted Chaudoir and Bob Schlicht. This position is for the remaining two years of Dennis’s term.

After a ballot vote Ted Chaudoir was elected to fill the position vacated by Dennis Bergene. The

second position to be filled is the Second Presiding Elder previously held by Tom Haight. His

three year term has been completed. The nominees were Mike Virgin, Greg Davison, and Peter

Brickner. After one ballot vote Peter Brickner was elected to the Executive Board as Second Presiding Elder.

 

The congregation thanked both Tom Haight and Dennis Bergene for their time

and efforts in serving the congregation on the Executive Board. Chuck Cihlar also noted that at

the next Executive Board meeting there will be decisions made as to how to express the

congregation’s thankfulness to the secretary, janitor, and preschool teacher for their dedication

to serving the congregation.

With all items on the agenda accomplished the meeting was adjourned

 with the singing of the Doxology at 1:55.

 

 

Cottage Corner ~ Pastor Darrick Kolterjahn

SOMEONE WANTS TO KNOW IF THE IRREGULAR MEMBERS WILL BE

CONTACTED?

A number of questions in this general area were asked. It has been, for

many years, and continues to be an ongoing ministry at St. Peters. After a

person has missed a number of months of Holy Communion, the member is

contacted by the Shepherding Team. This contact is usually made by

telephone if they still live in the area. Personal visits were tried about fifteen

years ago, but it became very discouraging for the team because

appointments were made, but often not kept by the person to be visited. The

next best option was telephone calls. For the most part, that is the way the

process continues. The pastors do personally try to make contact with some

people. A letter may be sent if they have moved away from the Sturgeon Bay

area. It is to encourage them to worship at a WELS church in their new home

community. This ministry sometimes becomes a very time consuming effort

to find some people and then make contact with them.

This was addressed in the Solid Plan this past fall. It was part two which

stated “encouraging more people to help make contact with our irregular

attendees.” The Shepherding Team asked others to join in this ministry of

care for our members. Some new people did join the Shepherding Team and

are making contact with our members.

This care for St. Peters members will be greatly enhanced if all of us

encourage a member whom we know as a friend or relative to be comforted

with the joy of the Savior’s love and forgiveness at worship. Be concerned

enough about them to talk to them and encourage them to come. We miss

them.

 

GriefShare ~ Pastor Roger Falk 

This program features biblical, Christ-centered teaching that focuses on

grief topics associated with the death of a loved one. The DVD seminar

features nationally respected grief experts and real-life stories of people,

followed by a small group discussion about what was viewed. Past

participants have related how helpful the information and follow-up

discussions were to them.

Many grieving people find they are only beginning the work of healing

when friends or family have returned to their daily life routines. Too often

people, including Christians, tend to stuff their grief instead of allowing it to

do the God-given work for which it is intended. Don’t allow fear of what

others may think to keep you from what could help you. Confidentiality is

very much a part of this program.

Your bereavement experience may be recent or not so recent. You will

find encouragement, comfort and help in grieving the death of a spouse,

child, parent, sibling, other family member or friend. No matter what the

cause of your loved one’s death, this is an opportunity to be around people

who understand what you are feeling. You will learn how to recognize the

symptoms of being stuck in grief and that you do not need to live in bondage

to certain emotions. You will learn valuable information about facing your

new normal in life and renewing your hope for the future. Grief-related

books/materials are provided at cost.

 

A Bible Study Just For You - See you there!

~ Pastor Larry Zessin

Man and Woman in God’s World - Weds. 9:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.,

February 3 and 10; Mondays, February 15 & 22 at 9:30 a.m.; and

Thursdays, February 18 & 25 at 6:30 p.m. Instructor - Pastor Kolterjahn.

Life With God Class - Adult Information Class - Wednesdays 9:30 a.m.

and 6:30 p.m. - February 3 and 10. Instructor - Pastor Zessin.

Doctrines of the Catechism - Wednesday Morning Bible Study - 6:30

a.m. at the Galley Café.

The Truth Project will start another session beginning right after Easter.

It will start on April 14 and run until June 30. Mark your calendars and plan

to attend for the first time, or come and join the class again.

Home Bible Study groups meet in the home to read, study, discuss

and meditate on God’s Word. They also provide support, understanding,

fellowship and encouragement for each other as their faith becomes more

firmly rooted in His word.

 

 

 

2010 Women’s Prayer Retreat ~ Judy Schumacher

Dear Father,

Thank you for the gift of prayer. Help me make a special prayer time with

You fit into my life’s schedule. Let me put March 20, 2010 on my calendar

as a day when I’ll join other women at St. Peters for a Prayer Retreat.

Please make me bold to share this prayer day invitation with others, too! I

ask this in Your Son’s name, who taught us all to pray.

Amen.

 

Preschool Preview ~ Principal Paul Lutze

We are having a Preschool Preview and All School Open House on

Tuesday, February 23 beginning at 5:30 p.m. Potential preschool parents

can come to see the room, pick up information, meet Miss Smith, etc. The

whole school will be open as well, so all our parents can see the rooms and

see various projects the kids were working on. We will also have pizza at

6:30ish and a little entertainment for everyone.

 

YAHS - Young at Heart Seniors ~ Anna Nelson

YAHS (over 55) will be holding it’s February meeting on Thursday,

February 18, at 10 a.m. in the St. Peters Social Hall. We welcome all

members 55 and over to join us. We will have a speaker on Census.

Also, we will again be having a lunch. Hoping to see many of you there.

Any questions? Call Anna Nelson at 743-6849, Carol Demmin at 743-2236

 or Arby Roth at 743-6060

 

 Faithful Hands ~ Anna Nelson

There will be a meeting of Faithful Hands on Thursday, February 4, at 6:00 p.m.

in the St. Peters Social Hall. All ladies of the congregation are invited for a

Valentine Potluck. Mark the date and plan to attend for a pleasure-filled evening

of food and fellowship.

 

 

Dear Members of St. Peters,

~ In Christ, Syda Reinhard

 

A short time ago I returned from the budget forum at church, and I feel the

urge to put some of my thoughts and feelings in writing. How sad that we are

deciding to take a giant step backward in our ministry at St. Peters. While it

may only seem a small step in changing the school program, eliminating even

one teacher doesn’t seem to make sense.

 

As was discussed at the forum, we are actually an aging congregation,

considering the number of “senior” members, like myself, who have been

around for lots of years! The future for St. Peters lies with our young families

and their children.

 Cutting any services to them isn’t going to inspire their allegiance to this congregation.

 

We are also kidding ourselves to think that dropping the church secretary

and janitor, and relying on volunteers, isn’t going to affect our ministry. The

continuity and organization that a consistent secretary offers will likely be most

appreciated when we no longer have one. After enough things are overlooked

or omitted, or mistakes occur that might even be costly to correct, we may

decide that a secretary is valuable. And the duties of a janitor involve not only

the major cleaning jobs, which will require everyone’s help to get done, but the

“right now” chores like a quick walkway shovel after a fresh snowfall, or

mopping the wet and slushy stairs so no one will fall. While those things may

get done, my guess is that it will often sidetrack a teacher or the business

manger to do them, which is not what we want them to spend their time doing.

I also feel real pain for the people whose positions are cut. It was one

thing to talk about position cutting in the abstract, but now there are specific

people who are losing their income, insurance, and Christian work

environment. You’re right, other people have lost their jobs in the current

economic climate, but I feel pain for all of them! And now we are the reason

behind this job loss and it doesn’t feel good.

 

I totally understand the dilemma our Executive Board was in, with no

funds to pay all the bills. So, the only answer seemed to be to recommend

cutting expenses. Being as cost-effective as possible - being good stewards

- is certainly what the Lord expects of us. But I don’t understand why we aren’t

spending a little more time talking about what our financial need might look

like. When I brought this up at a meeting recently, I was told “we don’t want

to talk about money because then members say that money is all we ever talk

about!” That’s like not wanting to talk about the elephant in the room! We are

in a financial crisis, and making serious decisions because of it!

 How can we not discuss it in a practical way?

 

WELS has always stressed that we don’t tell church members how

much they need to give to the church. Giving should be done out of love,

and in proportion to how the Lord has blessed you. I certainly don’t disagree

with that. It’s the “proportionate” part that I believe we need to pay more

attention to. Do we really take time to do some math at home and compare

our giving to what we spend on other things? Do we appreciate that our

current church need asks more of all of us, even if it means we have to

scrimp on a few other things we’ve become accustom to. I have always

believed that the Lord isn’t going to let what we give to Him be the cause for

our not having enough to live on.

He will always give back to us more then we give Him.

 

From a practical, understandable perspective, I did some math, based

on some estimates on my part. According to a recent report, we have 1,122

communicant members at St. Peters. I don’t have an actual figure, but I’m

guessing we would have about 350 of what I am calling “giving units” in our

congregation. You might also call them “households.” That “giving unit”

might be a family of 3 or 6, or it might be a single individual, like myself. I

hope we would have 350 out of 1,122.??? According to what has been

printed in the weekly bulletin, our weekly need in 2009 was just shy of

$14,000.00. Doing the math (I still remember long division!), that amounts

to a need of $40 per giving unit per weekend.

 

Forty dollars may seem like a lot of money, and for some households,

especially if you have lost a job, or have on-going medical expenses, etc.,

it may not be possible. But let’s talk about that “proportionate” thing again.

That $40 is what it takes to fill an average car’s gas tank these days. And if

the tank is empty you don’t hesitate to pull in the station and fill it up. “But,

Syda, I need that gas to get me where I need to go - to work, to school, to

the store and the doctor, etc.” It’s true, that’s the fuel that makes your car

go, but who really gets you to all those places you are going? Do we pay

attention to the fact that He is right there with us each step of our daily lives,

and yet we skimp on what we are giving to maintain His ministry. Or, do you

evaluate how much that last night out for dinner compares to what was put

in the collection plate the following Sunday?

 

I’m not accusing anyone, because some of you may be very

conscientious about your proportionate giving. I’m only asking that we

should evaluate the amounts we give as compared to what we spend for our

own enjoyment and entertainment. That $40 is by no means a “suggested

amount” that everyone should give. It was an attempt to point out that it is

not likely beyond the means of our congregation to meet our budgetary

needs if we all put our love for the Lord first. If you got in a habit years ago

to put $5 or $10 in the weekly envelope and still maintain the same habit,

thinking that was OK, consider that the costs of preaching and teaching

and books and paper and heating and electricity, etc. etc. have all gone up.

 

 Your personal budget has changed, and so has the church budget.

Of course, there will be some households that cannot give $40 a week and some others who

can, and should, give more than that. Again, it comes back to giving in

proportion to how the Lord has blessed you.

How blessed we would be as a congregation to reverse the suggested

cutbacks and commit ourselves to the ministry at St Peters. The Mission

Statement for St. Peters contains a beautiful passage from Hebrews:

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let

us throw off everything that hinders, and the sin that so easily entangles, and

let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” The Lord has

marked out a race for us.

 Are we ready to run it for Him?

 

 

 St. Peters Choir Members Sharing Christ ~ Bob Johnson

 

On January 16, St. Peters Choir was wonderfully encouraged when they

made a trip to the Green Bay prison to share the Christmas message with

the prisoners. The choir had two sessions with about 125 inmates total

seeking permission to attend. In both sessions the choir finished with songs

sung by both the choir and the men of the Green Bay Prison. In the second

session the prisoners shared their message with the choir and their band

accompanied us on two numbers. It was an incredibly uplifting event that

deeply moved everyone that participated. On Sunday, after singing at both

regular worship services, the choir carried the message to Pine Crest

Village. The residents, as always, were very appreciative. It was a long

weekend for the choir but one that was a blessing.

 

Member to Member Ministry ~ Sam Heimbecher

“I am a friend to all who fear you, to all who follow your precepts.”

Psalm 119:63

There is an exciting new movement starting at St. Peters. It’s called

Member to Member Ministry. The main principle of this ministry is fellowship.

Quite simply it is members of our St. Peters family visiting other members

in their homes. It is just a friendly visit to get to know other members and

get any questions or comments that may be out there. This is not about

stewardship or money. It is about fellowship within our St. Peters family.

The plan is to visit all the family units at St. Peters in four phases or

groups over the next year. Teams of two people each will be making the

visits. We may be calling you to be a visitor in one or more phases of this

ministry. It is a wonderful opportunity to get to know members better.

Please say yes, and welcome your fellow members when they call to visit.

 

 

What Has the Outreach Team Been Doing?

~ Everett Roberts

 

Here are other activities and ideas that our team has been involved in to

share Jesus Christ with the unchurched.

A few years back with the help of the youth and additional church

members we canvassed the community by hanging a bag of information on

the front door of homes and then going back another day to see if they

received the information and discussed our church and school where people

were interested. This was a project that took a number of years to

complete, because only a section of the city could be covered each year.

Tract Racks were purchased and placed at both church entrances.

Brochures with various interests were put in the racks. This is monitored

from time to time to refill the rack and to put in new subjects. This has

material to interest persons with many different needs and concerns.

We were involved in the Service of Worship and Praise. Snacks were

made available after the service as a measure of friendship as well as

having persons there to welcome visitors and to answer questions about our

church and school or to just be there to show fellowship.

As with the many good ideas that came up for discussion, some ideas

were set aside for action at another time and others were tried, but didn’t

work out as well as what we thought they would. Here are a couple of

examples:

1. We tried a nursery to be used for small children during church

services. This was staffed by one adult and one or more youth each

Sunday for the 10:05 a.m. service. Most Sundays no children

came. The nursery was closed due to lack of interest.

 

St. Peters Evangelical Lutheran Church & School

 

Church: 920-743-4431 School: 920-743-4432

Fax: 920-743-5388 Website: stpeterslutheran.net

Pastors: Larry Zessin - x164 and Darrick Kolterjahn - x165

Church Secretary: Laurie Stache - x160

Business Manager: Bob Johnson - x161, Janitor: Jon Konrad - x114

Food Services Director: Joni Vertz - office - x 143, kitchen - x120

Principal: Paul Lutze - x148

Teachers: James Livingson - x141, Gary Thoma - x142, Mary Maas - x146

                                  Rhoda Wierer - x140, Becky Thoma - x110

Pre-school: Amanda Smith - x117, PS Helper: Linda Mohr